Healthcare

Wellpoint’s Price

June 10, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">A big Arnold donor has big business with the state today... but until last night no one knew exactly how big for the donors involved. Wellpoint Health Systems, parent of Blue Cross of...</font>

WellPoint Payments Face Scrutiny;

June 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The health insurer's executives could earn a total of $356 million as part of its acquisition by Anthem.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of FTCR, criticized WellPoint for failing to disclose the pay figures it reported to the managed-care agency. And he knocked the department for waiting until the evening before the state's only public hearing on the merger to releas</p>

Lawmakers promised few changes if health care merger goes through

June 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"These excessive and obscene payouts to executives ultimately mean patients pay more, or business owners pay more," said Jerry Flanagan, health care policy director with the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights.</p>

Canadian drugs are backed by Assembly

May 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Prescriptions would be available at a Web site</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the governor and his committees have received about $325,000 from the pharmaceutical industry.</p>

CHI Boardmember Contributions to Govermor Scwarzenegger

May 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>11 board members of the California Healthcare Institute -- which provided seed money to the industry front group CURES -- have contributed a total of $559,636 to Governor Schwarzenegger.</p>

Battle over Canadian drug imports focuses on new group

May 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"The pharmaceutical industry has cobbled together another front group to hide their political agenda to keep drug prices high," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Drug Company Lobbying Expenditures in CA

May 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>According to quarterly reports filed with the California Secretary of State, 16 pharmaceutical companies and trade associations spent $1.08 million in lobbying expenses between January 1 and March 30 -- a 25% increase over the same period in 2003.</p>

Group seeks hearing on Anthem deal;

May 20, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Consumer watchdog has concerns about WellPoint and suitor's practices, wants regulators in California to scrutinize $16.4 billion merger.</h3><p class="source">The Indianapolis Star</p> <p>A consumer group Wednesday called on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to order regulators in his state to hold a public hearing on Indianapolis-based Anthem's proposal to buy WellPoint Health Networks.</p>

No Hearing on HMO Acquisition

May 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Anthem and WellPoint executives have to assure the public that the promises made to Blue Cross customers will be kept," said Jamie Court with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

New overseer for HMOs;

May 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Ehnes says she can't cure all ills, but she wants to keep doctors fiscally healthy</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"When it's a matter of life and death for patients, she has to be hard as nails," said Jamie Court, head of FTCR. "The HMOs have to think of her only one way: as a watchdog with bite and bark, and not as a lapdog who purrs."</p>

Medco settles, agrees more transparency

May 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pharma Marketletter (UK)</p> <p>Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) are virtually unregulated, said Jerry Flanagan of FTCR, who added: "leaving this industry to self-regulate is like leaving the keys to the safe with Enron and asking them not to steal."</p>

Consumer Group Sues Health Net

April 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Hartford Courant (Connecticut)</p> <p>Health Net Inc., one of California's biggest health insurers, is being sued by a consumer group for using a more restrictive interpretation of "medical necessity" than it stated in materials provided to California public employees.</p>